LONDON: Boris Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds have named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors who they said had saved the British leader's life as he battled COVID-19 complications.

Symonds announced the name on Saturday on Instagram beside a picture of her and the boy, who already has thick hair resembling the blond thatch of his father.

Symonds, 32, said Wilfred, who was born on Wednesday, was named after Johnson's grandfather, while Lawrie came from her grandfather.

"I couldn't be happier," Symonds said, adding her thanks to the maternity staff of University College London Hospital. "My heart is full."

Johnson, 55, returned to work on Monday after recuperating from COVID-19, which had left him gravely ill in intensive care at the peak of the coronavirus outbreak. He thanked the doctors at St Thomas' hospital whom, he said, had "saved my life, no question".

"We are honoured and humbled to have been recognised in this way," said Price, director of infection at Guy's and St Thomas' hospital, and Hart, director of respiratory and critical care. "We wish the new family every health and happiness."

AFP

Symonds and Johnson have been living together in Downing Street since he became prime minister in July. They announced in February they were expecting their first child and that they were engaged to be married.Symonds, a former public relations executive, also had symptoms of the virus but recovered more swiftly. She had said in February that the baby was due in early summer.

Johnson, who was present at the birth, will take a short period of paternity leave later in the year.

BABY IN DOWNING STREETSymonds and Johnson have been living together in Downing Street since he became prime minister in July. They announced in February they were expecting their first child and that they were engaged to be married.

Once dubbed "Bonking Boris" by Britain's tabloid media, Johnson has had a complicated private life.

He was once sacked from the Conservative Party's policy team while in opposition for lying about an extra-marital affair. He has been divorced twice and refuses to say how many children he has fathered.

In 2013, when Johnson was mayor of London, appeal court judges ruled that the public had the right to know he had an extra-marital affair with a woman who gave birth to his daughter.

Johnson's previous marriage was to Marina Wheeler, a lawyer. They had four children together but announced in September 2018 that they had separated. They divorced earlier this year.

Few British leaders have had babies while in office.

David Cameron's wife Samantha gave birth to their daughter, Florence, in 2010, and Tony Blair's wife Cherie gave birth to their son, Leo, in 2006.

Before that, Frances, the wife of John Russell, a 19th-Century Whig and Liberal politician, gave birth to two children in 1848 and 1849 while he was in office.

COVID-19: The Great Leveller

18 Mar, 2020

The coronavirus outbreak has brought the world to a standstill. With deserted streets, empty parks and most of the people self-quarantined, it seems that the planet is taking a break. In many ways, COVID-19 has been a great leveller of sorts. Be it the rich, the poor or even the famous, the virus has affected people from all walks of life and spared none.Ever since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, several celebrities - actors, singers and politicians - across the world have been diagnosed with the infectious disease. Many of them took to social media to share updates about their health with fans.We have prepared a comprehensive list of all the famous personalities who have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

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Morani Sisters

7 Apr, 2020

On Monday, 'Chennai Express' producer Karim Morani's daughter, Shaza Morani had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. As per reports, Shaza had returned from Australia before the city announced lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.Only a day after Shaza testing positive, her actor-sister Zoa also tested positive, according to family sources. Shaza, who had returned from Sri Lanka in the first week of March, showed no symptoms but was admitted to Nanavati Hospital.According to sources, Zoa, who had returned from Rajasthan around mid-March, tested positive for Covid-19.(With inputs from PTI)

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Boris Johnson

27 Mar, 2020

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus on March 27."Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus," Johnson said. "I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus."Johnson, 55, was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital across the River Thames from the House of Commons late on Sunday after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms, including a high temperature and a cough, for more than 10 days.His condition rapidly deteriorated over the next 24 hours, and he was moved to an intensive care unit - where the most serious cases are treated. Although he had received oxygen, his office said he was still conscious.(With inputs from Reuters)

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Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson

18 Mar, 2020

The ‘Forrest Gump’ actor was the first Hollywood A-lister to come out in the open and share his diagnoses with the world. The 63-year-old Hanks, who has Type 2 diabetes,, took to Instagram last Wednesday to share that he and his wife Rita Wilson had tested positive for the contagious disease while shooting for an Elvis Presley film in Australia."We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches," Hanks wrote. "Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive”, he added. The announcement sent shockwaves through social media and several fans expressed their concerns over the well-being of the actor.Late Monday night their son Chet confirmed Hanks and Wilson left the hospital five days after they were admitted. The actor recently shared a photo of a corona typewriter on Instagram on Tuesday and said his symptoms have remained stable.

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Idris Elba

18 Mar, 2020

Right after Tom Hanks’s self-isolation news, it was revealed that actor Idris Elba, too, was on the Covid-19 radar. The ‘Luther’ actor shared that he, too, had tested positive. For the unversed, Elba is known for his roles in HBO series ‘The Wire’ and is also a well-known DJ, rapper and singer. The high-profile celebrity tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. Elba tweeted that he had no symptoms so far and has been isolated since Friday when he found out about his possible exposure. He says he sought out the test after discovering he had come into contact with someone who had been diagnosed with the virus.Elba’s announcement was also followed by a furor on social media, with fans expressing concerns for the well-being of the English actor.